By Sadler H.B. No. 2699
76R7710 ESH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the compensation and benefits of active and retired
1-3 public school classroom teachers and librarians.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 21.402, Education Code, is amended by
1-6 adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
1-7 (g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for
1-8 the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 school years, a school district must
1-9 pay each classroom teacher or full-time librarian not less than the
1-10 minimum monthly salary for an employee at the employee's level of
1-11 experience specified in the General Appropriations Act for the
1-12 state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 1999. This subsection
1-13 expires September 1, 2001.
1-14 SECTION 2. Section 22.004(a), Education Code, is amended to
1-15 read as follows:
1-16 (a) Each district shall make available to its employees,
1-17 other than classroom teachers and full-time librarians, group
1-18 health coverage provided by a risk pool established by one or more
1-19 school districts under Chapter 172, Local Government Code, or under
1-20 a policy of insurance or group contract issued by an insurer, a
1-21 company subject to Chapter 20, Insurance Code, or a health
1-22 maintenance organization under the Texas Health Maintenance
1-23 Organization Act (Chapter 20A, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code). The
1-24 coverage must meet the substantive coverage requirements of Article
2-1 3.51-6, Insurance Code, and any other law applicable to group
2-2 health insurance policies or contracts issued in this state. The
2-3 coverage must include major medical treatment but may exclude
2-4 experimental procedures. In this subsection, "major medical
2-5 treatment" means a medical, surgical, or diagnostic procedure for
2-6 illness or injury. The coverage may include managed care or
2-7 preventive care and must be comparable to the basic health coverage
2-8 provided under the Texas Employees Uniform Group Insurance Benefits
2-9 Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code). The board of
2-10 trustees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall adopt
2-11 rules to determine whether a school district's group health
2-12 coverage is comparable to the basic health coverage specified by
2-13 this subsection. The rules must provide for consideration of the
2-14 following factors concerning the district's coverage in determining
2-15 whether the district's coverage is comparable to the basic health
2-16 coverage specified by this subsection:
2-17 (1) the deductible amount for service provided inside
2-18 and outside of the network;
2-19 (2) the coinsurance percentages for service provided
2-20 inside and outside of the network;
2-21 (3) the maximum amount of coinsurance payments a
2-22 covered person is required to pay;
2-23 (4) the amount of the copayment for an office visit;
2-24 (5) the schedule of benefits and the scope of
2-25 coverage;
2-26 (6) the lifetime maximum benefit amount; and
2-27 (7) verification that the coverage is issued by a
3-1 provider licensed to do business in this state by the Texas
3-2 Department of Insurance or is provided by a risk pool authorized
3-3 under Chapter 172, Local Government Code, or that a district is
3-4 capable of covering the assumed liabilities in the case of coverage
3-5 provided through district self-insurance.
3-6 SECTION 3. Section 22.005(a), Education Code, is amended to
3-7 read as follows:
3-8 (a) The board of trustees of a school district may establish
3-9 a health care plan for employees, other than classroom teachers and
3-10 full-time librarians, of the district and dependents of those
3-11 employees.
3-12 SECTION 4. Section 2, Texas Employees Uniform Group
3-13 Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's Texas Insurance
3-14 Code), is amended to read as follows:
3-15 Sec. 2. PURPOSES. It is hereby declared that the purposes
3-16 of this Act are:
3-17 (a) to provide uniformity in life, accident, and
3-18 health benefits coverages for [on] all employees of the State of
3-19 Texas, for teachers and librarians in public schools in this state,
3-20 and for their dependents;
3-21 (b) to enable the State of Texas and public schools in
3-22 this state to attract and retain competent and able employees by
3-23 providing them and their dependents with life, accident, and health
3-24 benefits coverages at least equal to those commonly provided in
3-25 private industry;
3-26 (c) to foster, promote, and encourage employment by
3-27 and service to the State of Texas and public schools in this state
4-1 as a career profession for persons of high standards of competence
4-2 and ability;
4-3 (d) to recognize and protect the [state's] investment
4-4 of the state and its public schools in each permanent employee by
4-5 promoting and preserving economic security and good health among
4-6 [state] employees and their dependents;
4-7 (e) to foster and develop high standards of
4-8 employer-employee relationships between the State of Texas or
4-9 public schools in this state, as applicable, and [its] employees;
4-10 (f) to recognize the service to the state by elected
4-11 state officials by extending to them and their dependents the same
4-12 life, accident, and health benefits coverages as are provided
4-13 herein for state and public school employees and their dependents;
4-14 and
4-15 (g) to recognize the long and faithful service and
4-16 dedication of employees of the State of Texas and of public schools
4-17 in this state and to encourage them to remain in state or public
4-18 school service until eligible for retirement by providing health
4-19 benefits for such employees and their dependents.
4-20 SECTION 5. Sections 3(a)(5) and (6), Texas Employees Uniform
4-21 Group Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's Texas
4-22 Insurance Code), are amended to read as follows:
4-23 (5)(A) "Employee" shall mean any appointive or
4-24 elective officer or employee in the service of the State of Texas,
4-25 including an employee of an institution of higher education:
4-26 (i) who is retired or retires and is an
4-27 annuitant under the jurisdiction of the Employees Retirement System
5-1 of Texas, pursuant to Subtitle B, D, or E, Title 8, Government
5-2 Code;
5-3 (ii) who is retired or retires and is an
5-4 annuitant under the jurisdiction of the Teacher Retirement System
5-5 of Texas, pursuant to Subtitle C, Title 8, Government Code, or
5-6 pursuant to Chapter 803, Government Code, and whose last employment
5-7 with the state prior to retirement, including employment by a
5-8 public community/junior college, was as an employee of a department
5-9 whose employees are authorized to participate in the Texas
5-10 employees uniform group insurance program;
5-11 (iii) who is retired or retires and is an
5-12 annuitant under the optional retirement program established by
5-13 Chapter 830, Government Code, if the person's last state employment
5-14 before retirement, including employment by a public
5-15 community/junior college, was as an employee of a department whose
5-16 employees are authorized to participate in the Texas employees
5-17 uniform group insurance program, and if the person either:
5-18 (a) would have been
5-19 eligible to retire and receive a service retirement annuity from
5-20 the Teacher Retirement System of Texas or the Employees Retirement
5-21 System of Texas had the person not elected to participate in the
5-22 optional retirement program; or
5-23 (b) is disabled as
5-24 determined by the Employees Retirement System of Texas;
5-25 (iv) who receives compensation for
5-26 services rendered to the State of Texas, other than an employee of
5-27 an institution of higher education described by this subdivision,
6-1 on a warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a department
6-2 or by an elected or duly appointed officer of this state;
6-3 (v) who receives payment for the
6-4 performance of personal services on a warrant issued pursuant to a
6-5 payroll certified by a department and drawn by the comptroller upon
6-6 the State Treasury against appropriations made by the Texas
6-7 Legislature from any state funds or against any trust funds held by
6-8 the comptroller or who is paid from funds of an official budget of
6-9 a state department, rather than from funds of the General
6-10 Appropriations Act;
6-11 (vi) who is appointed, subject to
6-12 confirmation of the senate, as a member of a board or commission
6-13 with administrative responsibility over a statutory agency having
6-14 statewide jurisdiction whose employees are covered by this Act;
6-15 (vii) who is a member of the governing
6-16 body of an institution of higher education, as that term is defined
6-17 by this Act;
6-18 (viii) who is a member of the State Board
6-19 of Education;
6-20 (ix) who receives compensation for
6-21 services rendered to an institution of higher education on a
6-22 warrant or check issued pursuant to a payroll certified by an
6-23 institution of higher education or by an elected or duly appointed
6-24 officer of this state, and who is eligible for participation in the
6-25 Teacher Retirement System of Texas; or
6-26 (x) who receives compensation for services
6-27 rendered to an institution of higher education as provided by this
7-1 subdivision but is not permitted to be a member of the Teacher
7-2 Retirement System of Texas because the person is solely employed by
7-3 an institution of higher education that as a condition of
7-4 employment requires the person to be enrolled as a student in an
7-5 institution of higher education in graduate-level courses and who
7-6 is employed by the institution at least 20 hours a week.
7-7 (B) "Employee" also means a person who is
7-8 employed, as determined by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas,
7-9 on other than a temporary basis, as a classroom teacher, as defined
7-10 by Section 5.001, Education Code, or as a full-time librarian.
7-11 (C) Persons performing personal services for the
7-12 State of Texas as independent contractors shall never be considered
7-13 employees of the state for purposes of this Act.
7-14 (6) "Employer" shall mean:
7-15 (A) the State of Texas and all its departments;
7-16 or
7-17 (B) an employer as defined by Section
7-18 821.001(7), Government Code, other than the board of regents of a
7-19 college or university not included in the meaning of "institution
7-20 of higher education" under Subdivision (18) of this subsection.
7-21 SECTION 6. Section 5(a), Texas Employees Uniform Group
7-22 Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's Texas Insurance
7-23 Code), is amended to read as follows:
7-24 (a) The trustee is authorized, empowered, and directed to
7-25 establish plans of group coverages for active employees and retired
7-26 employees which in the trustee's discretion may include but are not
7-27 necessarily limited to the following: group life coverages,
8-1 accidental death and dismemberment, health benefits plans,
8-2 including but not limited to hospital care and benefits, surgical
8-3 care and treatment, medical care and treatment, dental care,
8-4 obstetrical benefits, prescribed drugs, medicines, and prosthetic
8-5 devices and supplemental benefits, supplies, and services in
8-6 conformity with the provisions of this Act, protection against
8-7 either long or short term loss of salary and any other group
8-8 coverages which in the discretion of the trustee with consultation
8-9 from the advisory committee shall be deemed advisable. All rules
8-10 and regulations shall be promulgated pursuant thereto. The trustee
8-11 shall determine the coverages desired for [state] employees and
8-12 will submit this information to the Texas Department [State Board]
8-13 of Insurance for any recommendations as to the types and
8-14 sufficiency of such coverages. The Texas Department [State Board]
8-15 of Insurance will notify the board of trustees within 30 days as to
8-16 any such recommendations and will furnish the board of trustees
8-17 with a list of all carriers authorized to do business in the State
8-18 of Texas who would be eligible to bid on the coverages that are to
8-19 be insured by a carrier. The trustee will notify those carriers
8-20 that competitive bidding will be conducted and that they are to
8-21 submit their bids to the Texas Department [State Board] of
8-22 Insurance by a specified date if they wish to bid on the contract.
8-23 The Texas Department [State Board] of Insurance will, after the
8-24 designated closing date of receiving bids, examine and evaluate the
8-25 bidding contracts and certify their actuarial soundness to the
8-26 trustee within 15 days from the closing date. The trustee shall
8-27 select the desired carrier or carriers and will notify the bidding
9-1 eligible carriers as to the results of the bidding. The trustee
9-2 shall select the desired carrier or carriers to provide services
9-3 which shall be in the best interest of the employees covered by
9-4 this Act. The trustee is not required to select the lowest bid but
9-5 shall take into consideration other factors such as ability to
9-6 service contracts, past experience, financial ability, and other
9-7 relevant criteria. Should the trustee select a carrier whose bid
9-8 differs from that advertised, such deviation shall be recorded and
9-9 the reasons for such deviation shall be fully justified and
9-10 explained in the minutes of the next meeting of the trustee.
9-11 SECTION 7. Section 13, Texas Employees Uniform Group
9-12 Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's Texas Insurance
9-13 Code), is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection
9-14 (e) to read as follows:
9-15 (a) Except as provided by Subsection (e) of this section or
9-16 Section 13A of this Act, no employee [of the State of Texas] shall
9-17 be denied any of the group coverage provided under this Act.
9-18 (e) An employee who is a classroom teacher or librarian
9-19 described by Section 3(a)(5)(B) of this Act is not entitled to
9-20 group life coverage under this Act.
9-21 SECTION 8. Section 13B(c), Texas Employees Uniform Group
9-22 Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's Texas Insurance
9-23 Code), is amended to read as follows:
9-24 (c) If the trustee determines that a cafeteria plan adopted
9-25 under this section is no longer advantageous to the state or
9-26 [state] employees, the trustee may adopt an order terminating the
9-27 cafeteria plan and providing a procedure for the orderly withdrawal
10-1 of the state and [its] employees from that plan.
10-2 SECTION 9. Sections 14(a) and (d)-(h), Texas Employees
10-3 Uniform Group Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's
10-4 Texas Insurance Code), are amended to read as follows:
10-5 (a) The trustee shall use the amount appropriated for
10-6 employer contributions in accordance with Section 15 of this Act to
10-7 fund the basic coverage. The trustee may equitably allocate to
10-8 each health benefits plan the employer contributions that would be
10-9 required to fund basic health coverage for participants in the
10-10 plans to the extent funds are available. In allocating the
10-11 employer contributions among plans, the trustee shall consider the
10-12 relevant risk characteristics of each plan's enrollment, including
10-13 demographic variations in the use and cost of health care and the
10-14 prevailing cost patterns in the area in which the plan operates.
10-15 The allocation must be reasonable and set in a manner which assures
10-16 employees a fair choice among health benefit plans providing a
10-17 basic plan. The contribution set for each employee shall be within
10-18 the total amount appropriated in the General Appropriations Act.
10-19 The contribution for an employee who is a classroom teacher or
10-20 librarian described by Section 3(a)(5)(B) of this Act may not be
10-21 less than the contribution for a state employee.
10-22 (d) If the cost of the basic coverage for an [a state]
10-23 employee or annuitant exceeds the amount of state [employer]
10-24 contributions allocated to fund the basic coverage, the employer
10-25 [state] shall deduct from or reduce the monthly compensation of the
10-26 [state] employee, and the state shall deduct from the retirement
10-27 benefits of the annuitant an amount sufficient to pay the cost of
11-1 the basic coverage. The payroll officer for an employer of
11-2 classroom teachers or librarians, as described under Section
11-3 3(a)(6)(B) of this Act, shall pay the amounts deducted under this
11-4 subsection to the trustee at the time and in the manner prescribed
11-5 by the trustee.
11-6 (e) The trustee shall apply the amount of any employer
11-7 contribution allocated to fund optional coverages to the excess of
11-8 the cost of the basic and optional coverages for which the employee
11-9 or annuitant has applied over the basic coverage contribution.
11-10 Except as provided by Subsection (h) of this section, if an
11-11 employee or annuitant applies for basic and optional coverages for
11-12 which the cost exceeds the contributions for those coverages under
11-13 this Act, the employee or annuitant shall authorize in a form and
11-14 manner satisfactory to the trustee a deduction from the employee's
11-15 or annuitant's monthly compensation or annuity equal to the
11-16 difference between the cost of basic and optional coverages for
11-17 which the employee or annuitant has applied and the employer
11-18 contributions for basic and optional coverage. The payroll officer
11-19 for an employer of classroom teachers or librarians, as described
11-20 under Section 3(a)(6)(B) of this Act, shall pay the amounts
11-21 deducted under this subsection to the trustee at the time and in
11-22 the manner prescribed by the trustee.
11-23 (f) Except as provided by Subsection (h) of this section, if
11-24 an employee or annuitant applies for voluntary coverages, the
11-25 employee shall authorize in a form and manner satisfactory to the
11-26 trustee a deduction from the employee's monthly compensation or
11-27 annuity equal to the cost of the voluntary coverages. The payroll
12-1 officer for an employer of classroom teachers or librarians, as
12-2 described under Section 3(a)(6)(B) of this Act, shall pay the
12-3 amounts deducted under this subsection to the trustee at the time
12-4 and in the manner prescribed by the trustee.
12-5 (g) If an employee or annuitant refuses the coverages or
12-6 benefits provided under this Act in a form and manner satisfactory
12-7 to the trustee, the employer, state, or [and the] employee's
12-8 department, as applicable, may not make any contribution to the
12-9 cost of any coverages or benefits for the employee or annuitant.
12-10 (h) If an employee elects to participate in the cafeteria
12-11 plan, the employee must execute a salary reduction agreement under
12-12 which the employee's monthly compensation will be reduced in an
12-13 amount that is equal to the difference between the employer
12-14 contributions for basic and optional coverages and the cost of the
12-15 cafeteria plan coverages identified by the trustee as comparable to
12-16 the basic and optional coverages for which the employee is
12-17 eligible. The salary reduction agreement must also provide for an
12-18 additional reduction in the employee's compensation equal to the
12-19 cost of voluntary coverages for which the employee has applied. An
12-20 employee who executes a salary reduction agreement for insurance
12-21 coverage included in the cafeteria plan has elected to participate
12-22 in the cafeteria plan and agreed to a salary reduction for the
12-23 insurance coverages for subsequent plan years unless the
12-24 participant, during an annual enrollment period specified by the
12-25 trustee, elects in a form and manner satisfactory to the trustee
12-26 not to participate for the next plan year in the insurance
12-27 coverages. An employee who has elected not to participate in the
13-1 cafeteria plan insurance coverages may re-enroll by executing a new
13-2 salary reduction agreement during a subsequent annual enrollment
13-3 period. A salary reduction agreement for cafeteria plan benefits
13-4 other than insurance coverages must be executed annually, during
13-5 the annual enrollment period. The employee shall pay any remaining
13-6 portion of the cost of benefits that is not covered by the
13-7 contributions for basic and optional coverages and the salary
13-8 reduction under the cafeteria plan by executing a payroll deduction
13-9 agreement. The payroll officer for an employer of classroom
13-10 teachers or librarians, as described under Section 3(a)(6)(B) of
13-11 this Act, shall pay the amounts withheld from salary under this
13-12 subsection to the trustee at the time and in the manner prescribed
13-13 by the trustee.
13-14 SECTION 10. Sections 15(b) and (c), Texas Employees Uniform
13-15 Group Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's Texas
13-16 Insurance Code), are amended to read as follows:
13-17 (b) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the [The]
13-18 state shall contribute to the cost of [each employee's] individual
13-19 and dependent group coverages for state employees and employees who
13-20 are classroom teachers or librarians described under Section
13-21 3(a)(5)(B) of this Act the amounts appropriated for the coverages
13-22 in the General Appropriations Act. The governing board of each
13-23 state department and institution of higher education participating
13-24 in the program established under this Act shall pay the trustee a
13-25 like amount for each employee's individual or dependent group
13-26 coverages for their employees who are, and retirees who were,
13-27 compensated from funds not appropriated in the General
14-1 Appropriations Act. The departments and institutions shall include
14-2 the required contributions from funds not appropriated in the
14-3 General Appropriations Act in their annual operating budgets. Each
14-4 state department and institution of higher education participating
14-5 in the program shall assure current participant coverages based on
14-6 the records of the trustee, make timely payments of amounts due the
14-7 trustee from all fund sources under the control of the department
14-8 or institution, and reconcile trustee and agency records of
14-9 coverages and payments monthly. There is hereby allocated to the
14-10 trustee, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, [from the
14-11 several funds from which employees receive their respective
14-12 salaries,] a sum equal to the total of all employer contributions
14-13 computed in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the
14-14 rules and regulations of the trustee promulgated pursuant thereto.
14-15 (c) All money hereby allocated by the state, including
14-16 institutions of higher education, to the trustee under this Act
14-17 shall be paid to the trustee in monthly installments based on the
14-18 annual estimate by the trustee of the contributions to be received
14-19 for all employees during said year; provided, however, that in the
14-20 event said estimate of the employer contributions [of the
14-21 employees] shall vary from the actual amount of the employer
14-22 contributions during the year, such adjustments shall be made at
14-23 the close of each fiscal year as may be required. Each of said
14-24 monthly installments shall be paid into the appropriate fund
14-25 created by this Act in the amount certified by the trustee.
14-26 SECTION 11. Sections 16B(a)-(c) and (e), Texas Employees
14-27 Uniform Group Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's
15-1 Texas Insurance Code), are amended to read as follows:
15-2 (a) The State and Public School Employees Cafeteria Plan
15-3 Trust Fund is created in the State Treasury. The trust shall be
15-4 administered by the trustee. Salary reduction payments for
15-5 benefits included in a cafeteria plan adopted under this Act other
15-6 than coverages under the Texas Employees Uniform Group Insurance
15-7 Program and appropriations by the state for the administration of a
15-8 cafeteria plan adopted under this Act shall be paid into the trust
15-9 fund. The trust fund is available without fiscal year limitation:
15-10 (1) for all payments for any benefits included in a
15-11 cafeteria plan adopted under this Act other than coverages under
15-12 the Texas Employees Uniform Group Insurance Program; and
15-13 (2) to pay expenses for administering the cafeteria
15-14 plan adopted under this Act.
15-15 (b) The trustee may establish a monthly charge or charges to
15-16 be paid by each employee who elects to participate in a cafeteria
15-17 plan adopted under this Act for the purpose of paying the expenses
15-18 of administering the cafeteria plan. The trustee shall establish
15-19 the amount of the monthly charge or charges and may establish a
15-20 separate charge for each benefit included in a cafeteria plan
15-21 adopted under this Act. If the trustee establishes a monthly
15-22 charge or charges, each employee who participates in the cafeteria
15-23 plan shall authorize payment of the charge or charges by executing
15-24 a payroll deduction agreement or as part of the salary reduction
15-25 agreement, as determined by the trustee. The monthly charge or
15-26 charges shall be paid into the State and Public School Employees
15-27 Cafeteria Plan Trust Fund. The payroll officer for an employer of
16-1 classroom teachers or librarians, as described under Section
16-2 3(a)(6)(B) of this Act, shall pay the amounts deducted under this
16-3 subsection to the trustee at the time and in the manner prescribed
16-4 by the trustee.
16-5 (c) The trustee may establish the accounts for money in the
16-6 State and Public School Employees Cafeteria Plan Trust Fund as the
16-7 trustee considers necessary, including any accounts the trustee
16-8 considers necessary for the administration of a cafeteria plan
16-9 adopted under this Act. The trustee may transfer assets from one
16-10 account to another to pay benefits if the transfer is necessary for
16-11 financial management purposes and if adequate arrangements are made
16-12 to reimburse the account out of which the transfer was made, and to
16-13 pay administrative expenses.
16-14 (e) The trustee may, under the standard of care provided by
16-15 Section 815.307, Government Code, invest and reinvest any of the
16-16 money in the State and Public School Employees Cafeteria Plan Trust
16-17 Fund. The interest on, earnings of, and the proceeds from the sale
16-18 of the investments become a part of the trust fund.
16-19 SECTION 12. Section 821.001(7), Government Code, as amended
16-20 by Chapters 260 and 555, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular
16-21 Session, 1995, is reenacted to read as follows:
16-22 (7) "Employer" means any agents or agencies in the
16-23 state responsible for public education, including the governing
16-24 board of any school district created under the laws of this state,
16-25 any county school board, the board of trustees, the board of
16-26 regents of any college or university, or any other legally
16-27 constituted board or agency of any public school, but excluding the
17-1 State Board of Education, the Texas Education Agency, and the State
17-2 Board for Educator Certification.
17-3 SECTION 13. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
17-4 this section, this Act takes effect immediately.
17-5 (b) Section 1 of this Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
17-6 (c) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) of this section:
17-7 (1) a classroom teacher or full-time librarian
17-8 employed by a school district or a retired classroom teacher or
17-9 retired full-time librarian is not entitled to group health
17-10 insurance coverage under the Texas Employees Uniform Group
17-11 Insurance Benefits Act (Article 3.50-2, Vernon's Texas Insurance
17-12 Code), as amended by this Act, before September 1, 1999; and
17-13 (2) the following may not be terminated before
17-14 September 1, 1999:
17-15 (A) group health insurance benefits provided to
17-16 a classroom teacher or full-time librarian under Section 22.004,
17-17 Education Code, under an insurance policy in existence on January
17-18 1, 1999, except for a reason provided in the insurance policy; or
17-19 (B) the right of a classroom teacher or
17-20 full-time librarian to payment of a claim under a health care plan
17-21 and fund established under Section 22.005, Education Code, except
17-22 for a reason provided in the order or other document establishing
17-23 the health care plan.
17-24 SECTION 14. The importance of this legislation and the
17-25 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
17-26 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
17-27 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
18-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
18-2 and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its
18-3 terms, and it is so enacted.